The gate to the "Orient" & surreal moon landscapes: Istanbul & Cappadocia

A lot of people are still planing their summer holidays "last minute". In many cases the costs of the trip are playing a major role in the decision making. Turkey is known for well-priced beach resorts in the South. But this country is so much more than that. Mindful travelling is not only sustainable, it also means personal development and cultural exchange on every level to open up the "inner mindset" more and more. It is a great escape from our daily "ego fixations" and a wonderful way to get to know other ways to live, life stories, traditions and worldviews. Not all of them will be "in synch" with personal views but at least there was an unconventional connection made that can open you up for new experiences and people.

Turkey offers so many perspectives as it is a mixture of "western" and eastern" cultures (please forgive the categorizations) and has not changed at so many places for centuries - esp. regarding nature.

Whereas you can enjoy the latest restaurants, museums and night clubs in Istanbul, you can fall back in time in Cappadocia. You can even stay inside the typical tuff caves. The "World Heritage Site" Cappadocia shows impressively how people survived underground during sieges, environmental catastrophes etc. The cave systems of Derinkuyu (underground city) can still be visited until today (only for people without claustrophobic symptoms). For naturelovers there are wonderful trails through the whole canyon (please mind local informations and take a lot of water with you). Adventurelovers can take a balloon flight and free spirits will want to explore the hippie stays in Göreme. For a trip to the sea we recommend the west of Turkey that is less crowded. If you want to travel as a backpacker and reduce your carbon footprint, we recommend the local bus services that are inexpensive, friendly, safe and cozy.